Louis Gossett

Louis Gossett, Jr. (1936-2024) was one of the most respected African American actors in film, television, stage, and audio voice-over history with a distinct voice that carried quiet authority. He won the triple awards of an Emmy or Roots, an Oscar for Officer and a Gentleman, and a Golden Globe for The Josephine Baker Story. As an impassioned activist, he firmly believed in giving back to the community and donated his performance royalties from the Twelve Years a Slave audiobook to his nonprofit organization, the Erascism Foundation, which focuses on planting the seeds of social tolerance with children and eliminating the stigma of racism.